Rep. Nina Milliken

Maddy summaryLD 1848 requires Maine's Department of Environmental Protection to implement new dam safety standards. It mandates that dam owners of high- and significant-hazard dams conduct downstream hazard evaluations every 5 years and perform potential failure mode analyses using federal guidelines. The bill also requires the department to develop a comprehensive digital database for dam records, establish written safety policies, hire licensed dam inspectors, and create emergency action plans. These changes directly affect all dam owners in Maine, particularly those managing high-risk structures, and aim to improve safety oversight through standardized inspections and reporting. The department must submit annual reports starting in 2028 detailing program operations and needs.

Maddy summaryLD 847 prohibits housing discrimination in Maine by banning landlords from refusing to rent or negotiating for rental housing based on a tenant's **source of income**, such as housing vouchers, public assistance, Social Security benefits, or rental subsidies. It also prevents landlords from assessing a tenant's full rent amount when part of the rent is subsidized, requiring financial evaluations to apply only to the unsubsidized portion. The law, effective January 1, 2026, applies to most rental properties (excluding landlords with fewer than four units) and allows victims to seek $1,000 penalties or actual damages for violations. This directly affects renters using government assistance and landlords managing rental housing.

Maddy summaryLD 1879 imposes a 1.07% tax on corporate income exceeding $3.5 million starting in 2026, targeting large businesses to generate revenue for Maine's agricultural sector. The funds will directly support agricultural programs, including $5 million for business incentives, $1 million for property tax exemptions on qualifying agricultural buildings, and $5 million for an agriculture investment fund. It creates a 10-year property tax exemption (2026-2036) for agricultural buildings constructed or renovated after January 2026, with municipalities reimbursed 100% by the state for lost revenue. The bill allocates specific annual funding amounts to existing agricultural programs without creating new initiatives.

Maddy summaryLD 875 provides $4 million in state funding from the General Fund to support essential services for victims of domestic violence in Maine. The bill directly affects victims by ensuring access to critical resources like shelter, counseling, and legal assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services. It allocates $4 million annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 under the "Purchased Social Services" initiative. The legislation is designated as an emergency to ensure funding begins at the start of the 2025-26 fiscal year, addressing immediate needs for safety and support.

Maddy summaryLD 1706 requires courts to officially record (docket) the appointment of a defense lawyer for indigent (low-income) defendants who are in custody within 24 hours of the assignment, excluding weekends and holidays. It applies only to defendants incarcerated at the time a lawyer is appointed. The key provision mandates this 24-hour documentation deadline for court records. This ensures timely tracking of legal representation for low-income individuals in jail, improving accountability in the process.

Maddy summaryLD 1382 establishes a state loan program to help municipalities and local districts repair dams, with a maximum loan of $1 million per application. Repayment must occur within 5 to 30 years, but cannot exceed the dam's useful life. The state agency may require applicants to provide matching funds and can create a loan forgiveness program for eligible borrowers. This bill directly affects local governments responsible for dam maintenance and safety.

Maddy summaryLD 648 expands Maine's Supervised Community Confinement Program by creating a new eligibility pathway for certain long-term prisoners. It allows prisoners who committed their crime before age 26, have served at least 15 years of a 15+ year sentence, and maintained a medium, medium trustee, or minimum custody status for the past 5 years to qualify without meeting standard program requirements. This change directly affects inmates meeting all four criteria: age at crime, sentence length served, and consistent custody classification. The bill modifies eligibility under Maine law (34-A MRSA §3036-A) to provide an alternative path to supervised community confinement for qualifying individuals.

Maddy summaryLD 818 amends Maine's Clean Election Act to allow certified candidates to use public campaign funds for paid caregiving services for their dependents. Specifically, it permits candidates or their spouses/domestic partners to cover costs of direct care for dependent family members when the need arises directly from campaign activities during an election cycle. This change explicitly adds caregiving services to the list of permissible campaign-related expenses under the Clean Election Fund, which previously restricted funds to standard campaign costs. The bill does not alter the fund's core purpose but expands its allowable uses to address practical needs tied to campaign schedules.

Maddy summaryLD 273 clarifies that when Maine's Legislature creates a committee with authority to gather evidence (such as administering oaths, issuing subpoenas, or taking testimony), the Legislature itself retains sole authority to determine the committee's membership and scope. This bill ensures that lawmakers, not other entities, control the composition and purpose of these investigative committees. It applies specifically to committees delegated investigative powers, reinforcing legislative oversight. The bill is procedural, amending existing law to prevent external bodies from influencing committee structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Maine Legislature to annually increase state funding for the Maine Maritime Academy by 5% until its state appropriation covers at least the same percentage of operating costs as either the University of Maine System or Maine Community College System. It establishes a 15-member commission to review all state higher education funding policies, analyze current and past funding methods, and recommend changes by December 2025. The commission includes legislators, education experts, union representatives, student members, and system leaders, with instructions to consider expanding access to affordable higher education. The bill directly affects all three public higher education systems in Maine and mandates annual reports on operating costs from each system starting in 2025.